Predicting ceiling, floor for Pittsburgh in 2024 season

While Pittsburgh has been one of the ACC’s more consistent teams in recent years, last season was a slip-up. Finishing 3-9 was the program’s first losing season since 2017 and just two campaigns removed from winning the league. Not what head coach Pat Narduzzi wanted in his ninth season in charge.

But a new page has been flipped and there is hope Pitt can be better in 2024. On3’s Andy Staples and ESPN’s Roddy Jones gave their ceiling and floor for the Panthers, not being too big of a gap. A difference of just two games is there.

With the ACC entering a new era, a lot will be made on how teams specifically perform this season. Getting back to winning ways is as important as ever for Narduzzi and Pitt.

Ceiling: 7-5

Jones admitted to not having too great of a feel for Pitt heading into the season. Because of the defensive scheme they run — using a traditional 4-3 defense with three linebackers and relying on corners to play man — they can be tough to predict.

He does have faith in the personnel Narduzzi has on the roster, though. Pitt has been known for developing defensive players and Jones is banking on the same in 2024.

“To be honest, I don’t really know where Pitt is,” Jones said. “I don’t have a great feel for what this team should be or will be. But I think based on what Pat Narduzzi has done, I think their ceiling is in that 7-5 range. I don’t think they’ll be good enough from a personnel standpoint to be much better than that.”

Floor: 5-7

While Staples and Jones are not too high on the ceiling, the floor is not too low. Staples gives credit to Narduzzi and his coaching ability, believing he will not allow the Panthers to go any further than 5-7 in 2024.

Having some stability at quarterback is never a bad thing either, especially after a couple of misses in the NCAA transfer portal in years prior.

“I think Narduzzi is too good of a coach to let the wheels fall off again,” Staples said. “They go into the season knowing what they have at quarterback, it’s not going to be a mystery… We’ll see.”

Jones also points out a difficult schedule, playing 10 power conference opponents. And with only eight of those being ACC games, not the easiest 12 games anyone has put on paper.